PG Music Home Forums General Discussion User Showcase OK Campfire Strummer

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/phil-leith/ok-campfire-strummer
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g82_PKtKEfk
Original Demo (a few hours after I wrote it): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF-tjUB2_us

After finishing my album last fall I've been pursuing other things and have been away from songwriting and recording/producing... I did one sometime in the last year ... a little spoof on "Most Wonderful Time of the Year" only about our annual camp/float trips.

At any rate, the other night I was talking to a couple brothers and a visiting cousin and my older brother brought up the fact that I play guitar... and I gave the answer I usually give ... "Well, sort of. I'm not terribly good, I'm just an OK 'Campfire Strummer'" ... which seems to be a common term for the level right above "beginner".

He said "that ought to be a song". And I said, "You're right." Couple days later I sat down and wrote this ... in about an hour.

If it sounds like a lot of other songs ("Family Tradition", "Nashville Cats", "Gimme Three Steps", etc) that's because it's a traditional Country/Blues song form ...

First song I've produced in my new "Little Corner Studio", which has been moved from our master bedroom into a guest bedroom we've converted to my office/studio/guest bedroom since COVID.

Anyway, here it is...

****** Song Summary *************
Title: Campfire Strummer
File:Campfire Strummer.SGU
Key=A , Tempo 130, Length (m:s)=3:08
No intro. 98 bar chorus, from bar 1 to bar 98. Repeat x1 chorus
No Melody
No Soloist track.
Song is saved with Volume, Pan, Reverb, Chorus, Bank0,
Song is saved with bar changes for Volume Changes,
Style is _CSWNGMD.STY (Country Swing Medium-Fast)

RealTracks in style: ~539:Bass, Electric, Pop Sw 120
RealTracks in style: ~372:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming Hank Sw 120
RealTracks in style: ~974:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm CountrySwingCleanA-B Sw 140
RealTracks in style: ~977:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm CountrySwingGrittyA-B Sw 140
RealTracks in song: 1872:Fiddle, Soloist WesternSwingAndy Sw 165 (Bluesy)
RealDrums [in style:NashvilleSwing8^3-a:Snare, OpenHat , b:Snare, Ride

And then me on a little finger-picking and a busted string ... and some acoustic strumming which is very subdued in the background later in the song ... because ... I'm only an "OK" campfire strummer. My BIAB peeps do a much better job. Pulled it all into Reaper to finish it all up with mixing and recording the additional tracks.

OK Campfire Strummer
Phil Leith 8/21/21

Well I've come so far just learnin' guitar
And I'm better than I thought I'd be
I got a late start I'll never tear it apart
But I can't let it frustrate me
I'm only so-so never be a virtuoso
And sometimes I think that's a bummer
But I can get by without bein' too shy
As an OK campfire strummer

I'm a little bit sloppy, and I can get off-beat
But I'll just have to plow on through
What I lack in flash I make up for in passion
And a sustained chord or two
I can still win if you can rein me in
With a bass man and a drummer
Ain't no Pollyanna never be Santana
Just an OK campfire strummer

Messin' around, makin' that sound
Playin' calypso or swing
I'm havin' a blast, just makin' it last
But I hope I don't bust a string

My friends seem to love it when I play Jimmy Buffett
Or a John Denver song or three
And I can be gentle with a quiet instrumental
Finger-picking amateur-al-ly
But they can't sing along if I play my own songs
Though I might try to slip in a number
I might sing too loud, but I ain't too proud
I'm just an OK campfire strummer

[And I'm alright with that
Pick on my friend!
No, don't stop now, you're doin' just fine!
What's that key change?
Ah, never mind, I'll just fake it 'til I make it]

I might sing too loud, but I ain't too proud
I'm just an OK campfire strummer

Howdy Phil....

I gave it a listen.

Well conceived subject matter.
Good lyrics that developed the subject and kept me interested.
You have a good voice and you performed in a relaxed, convincing, easy going manner.

Good job on this one....good luck with your music endeavors.
Huh...this would make a good 'campfire song' when you get the opportunity.

Carry on....

Phil,
it's a nice country strum. The melody, story and tempo make me reckon this would be a cracker as a rockabilly tune.
Cool.

That was fantastic! Loved it!

Everything about this song is perfect. Your vocal was outstanding. Your lyrics super (have you been spying on me?) and the mix was spot on.

Two thumbs up

i like the character of your vocs. very cute lyrics.
liked the stop. also liked the talking before the end.

in summary this song is very well done...imho
om

Phil,

This sounds really good! Great concept and the tune fits the subject matter perfectly! Clever lyrics and a super job on the vocals! Enjoyed it all the way! Thanks, Torrey

Phil,

A good write. Clever. Nice internal rhymes throughout...

A good BAND to help out the stummin'

Nice vocals. Well mixed.

Good to see you back...

fj

Nice backstory, sometimes you just need few words to get a good inspiration. And it turned out to a very nice song, good old country swing with positive lyrics, "What I lack in flash I make up for in passion". Enjoyed the vocals too.

Janne

Thank you all ... I had a blast doing it.

I need to get my creative back on. I kind of burned myself out in 2020 working on the album and though I still played for fun, I pretty much stayed out of the studio. And though it's still approximately the same size and occupies the same tiny space only in another room, it's new and improved in that it's dedicated and it has sound tiles (you can kind of see it in the video, although the computer and monitor and such are behind the camera (well the computer IS the camera :-) )

This was so much fun it just might do the trick. I have a couple of Christmas songs I want to release on a "single" ... it's about time I get working on those if I want them polished and "in the system" by November.

This was a well rounded song, Fantastic vocals that lead the song throughout and not the other way around, just a good old tune with enough in and out instruments then the vocals .

A killer !

Thanks

I really like the song Phil.
I watched the video and thought "hey I want to do that too!" So that is a good inspirational thing.
Very clever lyrics and rhyming.
Well done!

Hi Phil,

I am honestly not an expert in country music, but your song sounds good to me and it is definitely one I would enjoy listening to again.

Thanks for sharing,
Will

LOVE IT, Phil! Right from the idea. It's also the perfect song for a campfire --that is if you're at least a cut above beginner status. Can't wait to hear the sounds out of your new studio setup.